Short flashback chapter. It is needed to explain somethings later on. Next up "Welcome to Atlantis"
Two months after the divorce had been finalized Nancy found the heart to go out again. Somehow her failed marriage and subsequent divorce had made her a recluse but her girlfriends wouldn't take it anymore and dragged her out of the apartment and into a bar. Her friends soon had found their companions for the night and were off playing pool or darts but she just wasn't in the mood. She was happy just sitting at the bar sipping her cocktail and observing the crowd. There had been guys sending her drinks occasionally but she send them all back. The social convention and meaning surrounding the acceptance of a drink just didn't sit well with her. So this explains why she was ignoring whoever had taken the seat next to her at the bar and so far it had worked. None of the men had said a word to her. Well would you talk to someone who deliberately turns their back at you? But then she heard it, the voice and the sentence that would lead her back to the game.
"Penny for your thoughts?"
Nancy couldn't even explain afterwards what made her not ignore him. Was it the voice? The intrigue? It didn't matter. She had turned around and they had talked on end.
After a couple of dates they finally both admitted to having high pressure jobs; Nancy with the agency and Evan with his attachment to the SGC – well he admitted to being a military officer, which he regretted as soon as he saw her facial expression.
Nancy back then still associated military officer with John and his erratic work schedule. And it had been that date too, when Evan had gotten an Emergency recall, back to the base, that meant they didn't resolve their conflict and on top didn't see each other for a while because Evan was stuck of world somewhere.
It had also been during that time when Nancy had first met Grant. She had been worried about Evan. She had tried calling him to try and resolve things and when he didn't answer or called her back she decided to go to his apartment. Well the apartment she thought was his. Evan lived with Grant at that time. So when Nancy knocked at the door, Grant Harrison answered.
"I was looking for Evan Lorne, he is living here." Nancy said in a half question.
She could have sworn there had been a brief flash of disappointment on the man's face but it had faded quickly when he answered smirking:
"Technically he lives here but he isn't here often. Maybe I can help you?"
"Maybe you can!" she heard herself say back.
Am I flirting?
"Do you know when Evan will be back?"
"Actually, no! I only came back two hours ago myself and just now found his note saying he had to leave for some out of country base with really bad reception. He usually writes E-Mails when he is away."
Great! Another black ops/special forces officer! Why me? Nancy thought and her face betrayed her frustrations.
"No need to get angry. He can't change that , it is part of his job!" Grant offered as a consolation.
"I am Grant by the way, Evans brother and you are?" he held out his hand for her to take and shake.
"I am Nancy, a friend."
"Tell you what Nancy, I accidentally ordered way too much take out and you look like you could need some soul food. Maybe we can get to know each other better."
Nancy reluctantly agreed and the two of them became fast friends.
Two weeks after their first meeting Nancy brought Grant along to Dave's birthday celebration. She should've known that John would be there. The one time she didn't expect him somewhere, he would show up.
Grant must've felt her tense up when John approached them and he acted like a possessive boyfriend. But they were just good friends at the time. Nancy couldn't start something when things were so up in the air with Evan. She wouldn't do that to him.
By the time Evan came home even he could tell that there was more between Nancy and his brother then a simple friendship and somehow he was never bitter about it.
Nancy and Evan resolved their silly fight quickly after she explained why she had a disliking of military men. He understood. He still does and that story is part of his reasoning why he shouldn't date.